Press Releases
Zambian Filmmaker Among Six Worldwide Winners of Inaugural Democracy Video Challenge
Lusaka. June 17, 2009.
Global Champs Created Stirring Short Films Finishing the Phrase, “Democracy is…”
LUSAKA—Lusaka-based filmmaker Chansa Tembo beat out more than 900 filmmakers from around the world, becoming the African representative in the first-ever Democracy Video Challenge. Mr. Tembo will travel now to Washington, DC and New York City, before having the opportunity to screen his film in Hollywood.
The Democracy Video Challenge, a global online video competition, launched by the U.S. State Department in conjunction with leading entertainment organizations, democracy and youth groups, and academia, announced the winners Tuesday. Online voters selected a winner from each region of the world (the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Middle East/North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central Asia and East Asia Pacific) from over 900 submissions representing 95 countries.
Hailing from various walks of life and under different political regimes, the participants were asked to complete the phrase, “Democracy is…” for a chance to win an all-expense- paid trip to the United States. The winning videos captured different visions of democracy in today’s world and incorporated thought-provoking creative elements, including an animated short about life without free expression to a rap documentary on the importance of sound leadership. To view all the winning videos, please visit: www.youtube.com/democracychallenge.
Mr. Tembo’s video, “Democracy is like a smoothie,” was the shortest of finalists, clocking in at 46 seconds. In it, Mr. Tembo uses different fruits to symbolize the diverse ideas that, when blended, form the basis for a democracy. Mr. Tembo celebrated the announcement at the U.S. Embassy, where he received a congratulatory call from a high-ranking State Department official. He and members of the Embassy sipped on fruit smoothies to celebrate his achievement.
The U.S. State Department’s Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Judith McHale, said: “Congratulations to winners of the inaugural Democracy Video Challenge, selected by the online voting public. The State Department and our partners created the Democracy Video Challenge as an experiment to generate a global conversation. In doing so, we learned from and heard a global array of impassioned and personalized voices and saw differing visions about the meaning of democracy.”
It took a Zambian filmmaker, however, to make that vision taste delicious.
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